Paying for college isn't as difficult as you might think. We'll show you how to go about finding the right school and paying for it.

The benefits of a college education are worth the investment: surveys show that those with college degrees earn more money over their lifetimes than those without a college education. In this chapter, we'll show you how to choose the right college, based on decisions such as price, academic specialties, location and size.We'll also explain what you need to do to be eligible for financial aid.

What can you expect to learn from this chapter:

The rising costs of college   Despite the rising costs, we show you that a college education is worth it over the course of one's working life. Picking the right college for you -- and your wallet   We spell out the factors you should consider when choosing a college, including price, academic strength, location and size. FAFSA: a critical piece of the puzzle   Your child isn't eligible for financial aid without this. We show you how to apply and how to read the Student Aid Report (SAR) you'll get back. Chapter 1 quiz   Do you know what FAFSA and SAR are? Test yourself.